Managing Instructional
Time
Lesson 4
Let’s Begin:
Think how you spend your time in school. Make a list of your
regular activities in the classroom and the amount of time you spend
doing them.
Activities in the Classroom Time Spent
1. In what activity do you spend the least of your time?
2. In what activity do you spend most of your time?
3. Do you think you spend the right amount of time on each activity?
Why?
4. What can teachers do to manage school time to give priority to
essential activities for students?
Effective classroom organization and management includes efficient use
of instructional time. Establishing routines, participating in group
activities, working on independent tasks, and other essential classroom
activities all involve time management.
Setting priorities and structuring the day around the most important
tasks is the first step in managing time in the classroom.
Instructional time refers to the period during which students receive
instruction from a teacher and the school is accountable.
It encompasses classroom activities during regularly scheduled time
when students are expected to be actively engaged
in a learning activity.
( Source: DepEd Order No. 31, .s.2012)
( Source: DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2013)
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the schedule for a
multigrade class may differ from that of a monograde class. Therefore, a
multigrade teacher needs to be knowledgeable about timetabling.
Time table is a relevant tool to manage time and organize resources.
In a multigrade, timetable usually, a subject is scheduled at the same
time for the entire class, however, separate groups may be working on
different things within that time.
Here are two common timetabling approaches that can be utilized in a
multigrade class ( Hyry-Beihammer & Hascher, 2015):
A. Split timetable or Subject stagger approach – each grade level
studies different subjects simultaneously. The teacher prepares different
lessons and teaches the groups in turns
Time Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
8:00- 8:50 Math Science English
Ex.
8:50- 9:40 English Math Science
10:00- 10:50 Science English Match
B. Common subject Approach- the students in each grade level will
study the same subject at the same time, but will work on different
activities.
Ex. Time Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
8:00 – 8:50 Math Math Math
8:50 – 9:40 English English English
10:00 – 10:50 Science Science Science
Tips for timetabling in multigrade class:
• Math and other subjects that need more concentration should
be taught in the morning.
• Consider the student’s maturity and attention span. Younger students
have shorter attention spans and may need to change activities more
often.
• Allow adequate time to teach and supervise all the grade levels may
it be in whole class or small group activities.
Activity:
Choose your preferred timetabling approach and create a one-day
timetable for a multigrade class.
